3 more indictments filed in Topaz affair
Azam Ibrahim, Muhammad Younis allegedly attacked actors' agent Boaz Ben Zion; Noam Awami charged in connection with attack on media exec Avi Nir
Indictments were filed with the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday against three more people allegedly involved in the attacks ordered by television entertainer Dudu Topaz against top media executives.
Twenty-four-year-old Arabba resident Ibrahim Azam and 26-year-old Muhammad Younis of Ar'ara were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and assault for their role the attack on actors' agent Boaz Ben Zion, while Noam Awami (26) of Kfar Saba was charged in connection with the attack on media executive Avi Nir of the Keshet Television network.
According to the indictments, Topaz was not pleased with the mild attack on Ben Zion and ordered another assault.
Daniel Zanko, Topaz's neighbor, is accused of mediating between Topaz and Ben Zion's attackers. In January Younis and Azam called Ben Zion from a pay phone near his home and told him "don’t leave your house; we are going to kill you and your partner."
Ten minutes later, Ben Zion was punched in the neck by one of the men and hit in the face by the other upon exiting his home.
Younis and Azam were arrested just minutes before attacking Ben Zion a second time.
Awami is charged with aggravated assault over the attack on Nir. According to the indictment, Ofir Sasportas mediated between Topaz, Noam Awami and his brother Yair.
Nir was confronted by the Awami brothers near his north Tel Aviv home and severely beaten with clubs. He suffered a broken nose, cuts to his face and broken ribs.
The indictment against Topaz himself includes multiple counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, aggravated assault and obstruction of justice.
Zanko is charged with mediating between Topaz and Ben Zion's attackers, as well as mediating between the entertainer and the men who attacked Reshet TV executive Shira Margalit, the deputy director-general of the Reshet television network.
Suleiman Hiadra and Ayman Zbedat were indicted for carrying out the attack on Margalit.
The court extended the remand of all those involved in the affair until the next hearing, scheduled for July 16.
